As they drove down a dirt path that led to the campsite, they saw other people camping out in their tents and RVs. There were lots of woodsy areas and a small lake. It looked like just the place for them, as they planned on staying a few days before continuing on their trip.

Finding a good spot to stop, Steve asked, “So, ok, Ghost…do ya remember how to put up this old tent?”

“Hmmph,” Ghost snorted, “I remember I saw that spider and you laughed at me. I never did put up that tent. You can just do it this time, and get a spider on you.”

“No, it’s your job, Ghost,” Steve laughed as he teased him. Ghost gave him the finger, and Steve cracked up.

“Ok, fine, we’ll do it together then,” he said, as he got out of the car and rolled out the tent.

Ghost had moved back a ways, not helping. “I’m gonna just get the other stuff out of the car,” he said, as he walked away.

He took his time rummaging around in the overstuffed trunk and back seat. Steve had finished putting up the tent by the time Ghost returned.

“You did a good job, Steve,” he smiled his lopsided grin.

“Yeah, thanks for helping, you slacker.” Steve grumbled, all hot and sweaty.

They pulled out the cooler of beer and sandwich fixings, and rested awhile. The other campers were lighting campfires and some kids were throwing a frisbee around. Steve had noticed some of the people had been watching him and Ghost. Of course they’d done some looking over at them, too, but nobody said you had to get acquainted with strangers in a campground.

Ghost, of course, never seemed to mind meeting new people. He could read people’s thoughts anytime he wanted, but reading subtle signs of friendship or disdain, was not as easy for him. He always thought people were nice, unless they came right out and said mean things, or hurt him.

It always puzzled him when things didn’t add up, people’s actions and thoughts sometimes were two different things. Steve supposed it might have something to do with numbers, in a round about way.

So, Ghost went walking around, down to the water, just looking at the stars, and moon, and saying hi to people along the way. For the most part he fit right in for once. These other campers were more of the commune, hippie class of people, he’d say…wanderers, modern day gypsies, or something.

Steve sat at their campsite and just watched what was happening, and how Ghost interacted. Some of the kids got him to throw the frisbee with them for awhile. Their parents, of course came over to check out the situation. Steve tensed up, just in case something happened, but everyone seemed friendly enough.

The weird thing was, was that Steve himself felt like the odd one out. He was still in his usual mode of dress, not decked out in his club clothes, but just in jeans and black t-shirt with a band logo. To these people, though, that made him strange, he guessed. And, he didn’t know how they’d feel or act if they knew he and Ghost were a couple.

Ghost returned then, and he chattered on about the people he’d met. “I told them we were gonna try to play at one of the clubs tomorrow night. Maybe they’ll come see us.”

“Did you say anything about us?”

“No, why? Guess they can see we’re together, don’cha think?”

“I don’t know, but you have to be careful about stuff like that…some people may seem nice, but may not like the way we live, ya know.” Steve looked intensly at Ghost, hoping to make him understand.

“Uh-huh, I know, Steve, I’m not stupid. I know some people don’t like guys being together…or even just me. They can tell, Steve. They always know. I don’t have to tell them…and they either be ok, or hate me. That’s the way it’s always been.” Ghost spoke softly, and looked down through the long strands of hair that fell in his face.

“You should know how it is by now, Steve, and I can’t hide all my life from something bad that might happen.” He sighed, and bit his lower lip.

Steve pushed Ghost’s hair away from his face, and raised his head to look him in his eyes. “I know, Ghost. I know…guess I’m just feeling different out here. We’re a long way from home, and I want to be able to take care of you. So, I’m always watching how people react…ya know?”

Ghost nodded. They sat awhile in silence. Then Ghost asked, “Steve, do you feel bad about being with me?”

“What the hell are you talking about, Ghost?”

“You know…you know…shit, Steve…I’ve always been in love with you. I am the way I am. I don’t know any other way, but…you’ve had girlfriends before – lots of them, and I know you slept with some of them…so, I don’t even know what I’m saying…and now I’m embarrassed to look at you – for you to look at me,” He put his head down on his knees and arms, letting his hair fall over his face again.

Steve was stunned at what Ghost had said. He’d never thought about it like that, ever. Now he was all confused. He’d always thought and felt like he was a straight, macho male. He’d had plenty of girls, and enjoyed their company, and he knew for a fact, that he loved Ghost with all his heart…and loved giving him pleasure, and receiving Ghost’s love for him. So, now, what the hell was he? Maybe he was both…or maybe he was trying to prove he wasn’t before. And, did it even matter? He knew he’d never have anyone but Ghost ever again, but he was still who he was, and that wouldn’t change.

“Damn, Ghost,” he said. “How can you even think I’d be sad or ashamed of being with you? I love you and want to be with you till the end of time. Yeah, maybe I did have girlfriends. I mean, the opportunity was there, and I’m sorry…I guess I never noticed you needing me…not like it is now. You never made any moves on me…God…I’m messing this all up. I can’t say it right…” he was almost in tears.

Ghost still had his face covered, but Steve could see his shoulders shaking…he was crying.

“No, no, no, Ghost. I noticed you…you’ve always been my best friend, my only friend, for real. Just, before , I didn’t realize you loved me. At least like that.”

“So, I’m just an opportunity in front of you, since you didn’t have anyone else at the time? You know I never did it with anyone but you, Steve. I didn’t even know how, or how to get you to love me back. And then, that one time, the first time we kissed…and you didn’t even remember it, and then said it was an accident, and you were drunk, anyway? …You know I told Kinsey about it? He said he knew we were in love all along, even before we admitted it to ourselves. And, you were still denying it, Steve!

And now what? Is it real for you, now? Because, it’s always been real for me…so real it hurts. Even now, I’m scared you’re gonna wake up and say ‘well it’s been fun’, and Steve, I think I’d die if that ever happened. I – would – die. And, how could you do that to me? I’d never, ever leave you, Steve. Even when I went away, I didn’t leave you, really. You’re always in here, in my head…in my heart…forevermore, Steve!”

“Oh, my God, Ghost! You’re getting ahead of yourself…that will never happen, and don’t say it’s some kind of premonition, or some crazy vision. It – will – never – happen! I’ll never leave you, either. I know I loved you from the very first. It just took awhile for me to realize you wanted it, too. Oh, Ghost…you’re the one with the words. I don’t know how to make it so you really understand. I love you more than my own life. There’d be no reason to go on, if you weren’t here.

I’m never trying to hide our love for each other. I don’t care what anyone thinks. We are who we are, and I’m usually feeling unworthy of your love. I don’t deserve it, but I’m forever thankful that you see fit to love me, too.”

Ghost reached over and took Steve in a big embrace, and they kissed. As Steve brushed away Ghost’s tears, Ghost said, “Steve, will you play some songs for me? I need to hear you play, and I need to sing. I can’t go to sleep without it.” He sighed and leaned against Steve’s chest. “Please?”

Steve nodded, yes, and reached for his guitar. “I’ll play for you, Ghost, but quietly. I’ll play for you forevermore, anything you want.”

And so, he did, and Ghost sang, his beautiful golden voice reaching up to the stars. The other campers heard this, and were transfixed at the beauty of the starry night, and the amazing voice that sang them all to sleep.

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

warning warning warning warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.

In continuing with my many jobs of the past, here’s a list of some of the next ones I did. All these were still part-time, as I was was in school for part of the day.

Crest-Line Distributors – I worked in the office here. It was a manufacturing place for chicken and hog watering systems. I believe they also did egg candling, too. Or made the egg candlers here. For work in the office, I mostly wrote up newsletters, and regular letters to customers. I took dictation in shorthand for this, and also used a transcribing machine. Actually, I think it was a tape recorder sort of thing, where the boss would read into it, what he wanted the letters to say, then I’d play it back on my own time, and type them up. I also sent out the newsletter mailers, after stamping the addresses on there with the address-o-graph machine, and running them through the postage meter, and folding them all up, putting in envelopes, and sorting according to zip codes, and bundling them all up. I also took all the received mail, and opened it all. I also had plenty of time to mess around, so I did lots of zentangle type drawings (before it became a thing)

At the same place, in the same building, down the hall, I worked two other jobs. For these, I just processed orders. It was for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and for Hawaiian Punch juices

General Services Administration GSA – I was a student aide for this government job, during the summer months. Here I kept up the many notebooks of rules and regulations that would be issued every day. I also did some typing, and for something different, I got to train on the PBX telephone system in the building. That was fun, but complicated, with all those cords and plugs. … Interesting fact, my boss here knew my uncle, somehow, so he always asked how he was. Another fun fact, was when we weren’t very busy, the other office lady and I would read movie magazines. 🙂

Old PBX phone system (similar to what I used, but not quite) Photo from Pixabay

Q24 – Is there another song that makes you reminiscent of your teenage years?

At the moment I can’t think of any one specific song. I listened to all kinds of songs in the 60s, from rock, metal, soul, bubble-gum, some country, and movie soundtracks. It was all good.

Q25 – If you could go back in time to your childhood, would you? What would you want to change, if anything?

Probably not, unless I could take everything from what the years I’ve already lived through back with me. I don’t know of anything I’d change.

Q26 – What is something about your younger years that you would absolutely not change or trade for anything?

I wouldn’t change how close our family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents were. We all got along, and actually all lived pretty close to each other. Us kids ran around the whole neighborhood with each other and our friends, having fun all day. No one was afraid of being out and about.

Q27 – What do you remember the most from the year you turned 19? What was going on in your life back then?

All was good when I was 19. I graduated high school, I was dating my now husband. We got engaged in May and got married in December. I had a job and a car, too, so it was a good year. (1969)

Q28 – When did you go on your first date? What did you do? Where did you go? Did you go out on another date with that person?

Today is the 2nd day of random posts. This one is about one of the many jobs I’ve had in the past. I wrote a little about my very first paying job http://wp.me/p3RE1e-1HX

Today is a piece I wrote for the A to Z Challenge a while back, about the 2nd job I had.

Hope you enjoy reading about it, and the music video at the end. It’s about working, too. 🙂

***

photo found on Pixabay

***

CORRUGATED CONTAINERS, CARTONS, BOXES

Those handy, dandy boxes. We all have them. Everything under the sun seems to come in them, large and small items, and from food to machinery. Even products packaged in boxes, come in larger boxes by the case.

We use and re-use them for all kinds of purposes. They are great for storage, their sides are flat and are easy to stack, they have flaps, so you can close them. They have writing on the sides, top, and bottom, either giving instructions, or identifying what’s inside. You can recycle cardboard, too. They are environmentally friendly.

Do you hate to throw away a ‘good’ box? do you save some for later use…maybe to send a package to someone, or for gift giving? It seems like cardboard containers are everywhere, yet at times, when you really need one, they are hard to find, especially in the size you want.

I never thought much about boxes, before I started a job at a corrugated container manufacturing plant. This was the second job I ever had. I was still in business college. I’d go to work part of the day, then go to classes at night. I did secretarial tasks in the front office, but occasionally I’d need to go back into the manufacturing area for some reason. It was noisy, with all the machines, cutting, pre-folding, and printing the words on the flattened sheets of cardboard.

One time, the workers had forgotten to add a number to the printing process, and discovered it at the end of the job. Instead of re-doing the order, they called on me to remedy the situation. That day, my job was to take a black magic marker and write the missing number on these boxes…hundreds of them.

It was actually pretty fun to be hanging out with the work crew. They were always in a good mood, laughing, joking, and playing the radio loud, over the noise of the machines.

Now, ever since then, I think of how cardboard, and corrugated containers and boxes are made. I habitually check to see if maybe someone else has had to write a number on a box, like I did.

For the next three weeks the questions are from kids. The Happy Quitter wrote me this weekend and told me about her workshop she does for neighborhood kids and the some of the kids had some suggestions for the Share your World challenge. I realize there are more than 4 questions so feel free to answer all or only 4 questions.

Back in High School, when I was there, we weren’t offered much variety in electives to take. I think these days students have more choices. I took the regular required subjects, adding on orchestra (I played violin), and yearbook, which I got to help put together. I did take office education, in which half a day we go to class, and half a day we have a real, paying job, outside of school. It did count for credits. If they had offered astronomy, photography, or forensics, I would have loved to take those.

Q2 – What’s your favorite comic figure, and why?

Comic figure…so many kinds of comic figures. I liked pretty much any kind of comics. I liked reading the newspaper ‘funny papers’ that were in the Sunday paper. On TV, I liked Mighty Mouse cartoons. I can still sing part of the song…’here he comes to save the day…it means that Mighty Mouse is on his way…’ 🙂 something like that. I like the comic book characters of Casper the Friendly Ghost, and all the Archie comics. I do like Bucky the cat, from Get Fuzzy fame, and of course Garfield the cat.

So, cats, and mice, and ghosts…could be a theme here? haha I still like all that.

For stand-up comics you see on TV, I always liked Dana Carvey, and Rich Little because they could do all the celebrity voices and mannerisms.

Q3 – Name something you wish you could like.

Apples. They look so good, and there are so many varieties, but I’m just not a fan of any of them. I try them. I buy them once in awhile, just to have them sit there until they rot, because I just can’t bring myself to actually eat it.

Q4 – Tell me about your first crush/first date/first kiss.

First crush was orange…as in the soda pop Orange Crush. I used to love those, but one day in the hot summertime, being outside cracking cement off used bricks, I drank some ice cold Orange Crush, and got sick all over the place. No more crushes for me after that.

First kiss? Hershey’s Kisses candy. Loved those silver foil wrapped candies with the little paper flag, when I was a kid, and I still do. 🙂

First date? Can’t even remember who it was with, or where we went. First date with my now husband, we went to the drive-in movies to see a war movie I think was called ‘The Big Red One’. We also listened to the radio, and I remember the song, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”, by Otis Redding was playing. I’ll just bet we had a few kisses that night!

Q5 – Who was your best friend when you were 10?

Probably my cousin J. Also my BFF, ‘N’, who is still my friend, and we email each other quite often, as she doesn’t live here in this city now.

Q6 – What sign are you? Do you believe in astrology?

Saggitarius, the Archer, a Fire Sign, with ruling planet Jupiter, birthstone of Topaz, and Thursday is the day. I was born on a Thursday. I love Topaz, and the planets. I’ve read some of the characteristics of my sign, and quite a lot are on point, but then again, some are not, or at most, so vague it could fit anyone’s personality. It’s all very interesting, but I don’t think I’d follow what the horoscopes in the newspaper suggests for the days.

Today is the first day of random posts. I love doing the blog challenges, but want to do some different things, too. These will be whatever I think of on the day, be it a photo, a thought, a story, poem, art, or something musical. Hope you enjoy the surprises! 🙂

***

What is all this, you ask? It looks like a bunch of random items, and you are right.

The other day I was cleaning out my purse, and found all this in there. I have a habit of sticking all kinds of things in there, from wherever we go. Mostly to save for later, or whatever. Then I forget it’s in there. I’m usually surprised what I find later on, stuck down in the dark corners of my purse. One time I even found a live spider…how it survived in there, I don’t know, but he was a little one, and came crawling out. Yikes! But, I like spiders, so I let him go on his way.

Anyway, here’s what I thought of about all these things in the picture. I could definitely make a stab at survival, if need be, well, maybe for an hour or so?

There are saltine crackers = won’t starve, and I can leave crumbs to mark my trail

There are croutons = same as the crackers, if I feel like being fancy. Also I can feed the birds. Maybe there will be a carrier pigeon I can tie a note to his leg, That way I can summon rescue.

There is a package of eye glasses cleaner things = given out free at a store. I could at least get a clear picture of where I was located.

There is a compass = yeah, I know, it’s a toy one given out at my grand-daughter’s pirate birthday party, but hey…a compass!

There is a fortune cookie = in case I really want to know what my future of being rescued is…or I can just eat it

There are pieces of candy = root-beer barrels, actually. Those would be for keeping me happy as I wait! 🙂

So, there you go. These items were in addition to the regular stuff I keep in there. 🙂

Do you keep odd items in your purse, pocket, or backpack? Would they help you out if you were stranded somewhere?

I’m going to try to have a random post every day. It won’t have anything to do with any of the blog challenges I like to do. These will be a surprise, whether it is something silly, music, poem, photo, art, story, or whatever I think of to post.

Tomorrow, Monday, will be the first day. Hope you enjoy seeing what I come up with! 🙂

Today’s topic is Rain. Guess it was a good time for it, as it has started to rain here today. The first 3 photos I took looking out my back door, the kitchen window, with my plant, and another of the back storm door. You can see rain droplets on there, along with some fun stickers my grand-son put on the glass. 🙂 The last one was from a while back, when we had very heavy rain. Our yard and street flooded. It looks like a brown river flowing down the street in front of the house. All these were taken on my iphone.

Steve drove up the gravel drive, back at their house. They left most of their things in the car, as there would be no point in unloading, then loading up again in the morning. It was late, but Steve brought out Ghost’s present. It was a digital camera. They’d never had a camera before, and this one looked easy to use, so he’d bought it.

“This is so neat, Steve! Now, I got a present and you got a present. Now, I can take pictures of everywhere we go.”

Steve was happy that Ghost liked his gift, and they figured out how to use it, by taking silly pictures of each other. Then, Steve showed Ghost how to use the phone, and he seemed to understand to use the letters on it.

Now, they began packing for their road trip… clothes they’d need, some snacks, Ghost’s backpack, stuffed full of the usual mish-mash of stuff, plus extra blank journals, and markers. Steve had mentioned to Terry that he could come stay at the house, whenever he wanted, as he got tired of living in his room behind the record store. “Just don’t wreck the place, ok?” Steve had told him.

Finally crashing in to bed, both were asleep as soon as they turned out the light. They’d planned to leave early, and were actually up and out the door pretty much as planned, as morning came.

As they drove away Ghost looked out the car window and said, “Good-bye little house. We’ll be back, I promise.”

It would take about two hours or so of driving, before reaching the mountain road that would take them to meet the couple, who’d been so nice to them. The closer they got, the quieter Ghost got. Steve glanced over, seeing him frowning, and looking down.

“What’s the matter?”

Ghost sighed and said, “Nothing.”

But Steve figured Ghost was remembering his time up here. He knew Ghost remembered some of it – after he had gotten better, but all that had come before, how bad he’d been hurt, how he’d actually died for a little while…he didn’t think Ghost knew any of that. At least consciously. There probably was a part of him that knew, that he could feel what happened.

“Look, Ghost,” Steve said, “we don’t have to go up here, ya know. It may be too much to take in, too much to remember stuff.”

“I know, but I still want to see them, to show them I’m ok now, and that you found me.”

Steve nodded, and kept driving. He knew it was something Ghost needed to do.

He had sent a postcard to them, letting them know they’d stop by, so it wasn’t a complete surprise, when they drove up the twisty road to the little community. There was no shot-gun welcoming committee, this time, as they drove up to the house.

When they got out of the car, the couple came out to greet them. Ghost hugged them both. Steve hung back, but they drew him in, too. The woman noticed the cast still on Ghost’s hand, and looked at him with a question in her eyes.

“We was in the hurricane, and my hand got busted. Our whole house got crashed by a tree! But, we were ok, and our friends put our house back together.”

“That must have been so frightening. I’m glad y’all were able to come to see us, now.”

“We found the journal my grandmother had hidden. It said a lot of stuff I never heard before. It was bad stuff, and it made me sad,” Ghost said softly.

“I know, Ghost,” she replied. “I know the whole story, because I was here. It must have been a shock to hear about everything.”

Ghost nodded, but couldn’t make any words come out.

“I’m glad you know, now. You needed to hear it, even if it was heart breaking. But, now look at you. You’re all grown up, and you and Steve are doing fine, and enjoying what you’re doing with your music. I’m proud of the way you turned out.” She gave him a warm, long hug.

They stayed long enough to have a huge lunch with them. She’d made pork chops and gravy, mashed potatoes, and greens from the garden. She’d even made biscuits…and there was fresh churned butter, strawberry preserves, and a jug of molasses for Ghost to dip his biscuit in. They were all stuffed.

Then, it was time to go. Ghost took pictures of them all, and the house, and the food…and they said their good-byes. The lady took Steve aside and said, “I trust you now. I know you love him, and will watch out for him. Take care of yourself, and take care of Miz Deliverance’s ghost child.”

Steve nodded, “I will,” he said. She hugged him again, then they were on their way.

As they drove down the road again, Ghost cried his sadness out. He hated good-byes, and this one was one of the most meaningful to him…his first home in the mountains. The place, and people, and experiences that had shaped him, at a very early age, had imprinted their stamp on him. He’d always be of the mountains, no matter where he lived.

~

They decided to keep going west, for awhile, and only stop when Steve got tired of driving. As a loose plan, they wanted to stay in a motel, sometimes along the way, but mostly they were going to use the old tent, and be camping out.

As Ghost looked out the car window, he sang made up songs about whatever caught his attention from one moment to the next.

“Hey, Steve, when ya gonna show me how to play your guitar?” he asked.

“I did already, remember? You said it was too hard to get your fingers around the neck, and that it hurt.” Steve laughed.

“Oh, yeah, well, maybe I want to try again, when this cast gets off of me,” Ghost said.

“Ok, I’ll show ya again, but right now, just keep singing your silly songs, they make me laugh,” Steve said.

Ghost smiled, then continued singing.

As evening was turning the sky a deep purple, they came upon the outskirts of a medium size town they’d never heard of. They found a small camping area they could stay the night at, then went to find someplace to eat. They saw a couple of coffee bars, and regular redneck bars, so stopped in to ask if they needed a couple of musicians for a night.

The first one they entered was hardcore cowboy. It didn’t seem like their kind of crowd. The next one was a mix of musical styles…mostly from the jukebox, but they advertised an open mic night for the next night. That sounded ok to Steve and Ghost. They planned on coming back.

The coffee bar was ok, anyone could take a turn singing, doing comedy, or reading poetry. It would be a quieter type of show but, they wanted to try it out, too.

First, though, they needed to set up their tent. Steve drove them to the far edge of the town, where he’d seen the camping area.

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

warning warning warning warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.